Infectious Diseases News and Research

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Cow Digestive Enzyme Shown to Break Down Tough Bacterial Biofilms

Most of the disease-causing bacteria secrete matrix-like layers around themselves called biofilms. These biofilms act as thick barriers limiting the entry of drugs and helping the bacteria become resistant to antibiotics.

12 Nov 2024

MIT Engineers Develop Model to Decode Complex Biological Systems

Over the past two decades, new technologies have helped scientists generate a vast amount of biological data. Large-scale experiments in genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and cytometry can produce enormous quantities of data from a given cellular or multicellular system.

6 Nov 2024

Study Links Archaic Gene Variant to Health Risks in First Nations Oceanians

An ancient gene mutation among First Nations inhabitants of Oceania may make them more susceptible to infectious diseases like influenza, according to a new study by scientists at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

30 Oct 2024

Monoclonal Antibody Market Set to Triple by 2033, Revolutionizing Disease Treatment

Recent advancements in monoclonal antibody engineering are reshaping disease treatment, focusing on safety, effectiveness, and addressing current medical needs.

28 Oct 2024

Whole Genome Sequencing Reveals New Insights into Providencia rustigianii

Salmonella and E. coli are well-known bacteria that cause food poisoning, but less understood are species of Providencia, another causative agent of serious symptoms.

18 Oct 2024

Researchers Develop Innovative Human Macrophage Model for Disease Study

A human cell culture model of the lung's most important immune cells, alveolar macrophages, helped make a key finding that is prompting researchers to rethink the role of another immune protein in infectious disease.

15 Oct 2024

New Insights Into the Antibacterial Function of GBP1 Proteins

An essential part of the human body's defense mechanism against infections is the protein GBP1.

14 Oct 2024

New Research Reveals Link Between Stress Response and C. difficile Severity

The portion of our nervous systems responsible for the "fight or flight" response can shape the severity of potentially deadly C. difficile infections, new research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine reveals.

14 Oct 2024

UC San Diego and UC Berkeley Collaborate on Innovative Antibiotic Resistance Solution

University of California San Diego and University of California Berkeley researchers have been awarded up to $7 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to conduct research under the PROTECT project -; Pro/Prebiotic Regulation for Optimized Treatment and Eradication of Clinical Threats.

14 Oct 2024

Bird Migration and Invasive Species Fuel Parasite Spread

A single shift of a parasite from one host species to another can trigger catastrophic infectious disease outbreaks. Despite this, scientists continue to debate the role of species diversity in natural environments on the spread of these parasites.

9 Oct 2024

Targeting the TCA Cycle to Reduce Post-TB Mortality

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and other institutions have discovered a mechanism that causes the long-term decline in immune response observed after tuberculosis (TB) is successfully treated.

1 Oct 2024

The Lasting Effects of COVID-19 on the Brain

In the UK’s largest study to date, novel steps have been taken to gain a better understanding of the immediate and long-term effects of COVID-19 on the brain.

25 Sep 2024

Neutron Scattering Reveals Enzyme Secrets

Scientists have uncovered amazing information about the role of an enzyme that could assist in the development of drugs for aggressive cancers in just two neutron experiments.

25 Sep 2024

New Method Analyzes Tooth Enamel Proteins to Gain Insights into Human Health History

A new way of looking at tooth enamel could give scientists a path to deeper understanding of the health of human populations, from the ancient to the modern.

20 Sep 2024

Monoclonal Antibody SC27 Shows Broad Effectiveness Against SARS-CoV-2 Variants

A monoclonal antibody appears effective at neutralizing the numerous variants of SARS-CoV-2, as well as related viruses in animals that could pose a threat if they were to begin spreading in people.

10 Sep 2024

Climate Change Exacerbates Valley Fever Threat

A fungal disease called valley fever is on the rise in the western United States. It typically manifests as flu-like symptoms, but it can potentially have fatal or extremely serious side effects.

4 Sep 2024

Marine Bacteria Could Hold Key to Fighting Tuberculosis

The surprising discovery of a bacterium in a marine sponge from the Great Barrier Reef with striking similarity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the pathogen responsible for tuberculosis (TB), could unlock and inform future TB research and treatment strategies.

30 Aug 2024

Bifidobacterium in Maternal Gut Found to Alter Fetal Brain Growth

Bifidobacterium breve supplementation in pregnant mice alters fetal brain metabolism, highlighting its role in enhancing gestational health and development.

29 Aug 2024

Cryo-EM Study Sheds Light on HSV Drug Resistance Mechanisms Through Protein Movement

All organisms -; from fungi to mammals -; have the capacity to evolve and adapt to their environments. But viruses are master shapeshifters with an ability to mutate greater than any other organism. As a result, they can evade treatments or acquire resistance to once-effective antiviral medications.

28 Aug 2024

Ancient Viral Remnants Serve as Accurate Aging Clock

DNA markers linked to retroelements - remaining pieces of ancient viral genetic material - in human genes have been found by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and the epigenetics startup TruDiagnostic.

20 Aug 2024